Mary Prior KC

R v Lipscomb Leicester Crown Court 2025

Child rape. Grooming.

Defence of man indicted with the rape and sexual abuse of five children under 16 who he groomed on the internet.

R v Tansley Nottingham Crown Court 2024

Manslaughter by gross negligence

Death of partner caused by severe neglect after a fall.

T was the partner of the deceased. She was bed bound. She fell from the bed and T avoided care for her until she was unable to drink or eat. Died in hospital. Complicated by the fact that the deceased had undiagnosed terminal cancer. Oncology expert demonstrated life shortened by several months. Convicted.

R v Gregor Bauld Leicester Crown Court 2024

Murder of mother by stabbing. Drug induced psychosis.

The defendant had severe schizophrenia and stabbed him mother to death in the street. A contested fitness to plead and stand trial hearing was conducted. The defendant was found fit to stand trial. Crown pursued murder allegation. Relied on drug induced psychosis. Case involved significant mental health conditions, cross-examination of the defendant’s father, friends and family members who had all taken against him. Acquitted of murder.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/nov/08/schizophrenic-leicestershire-man-who-killed-mother-sentenced-to-life

R v Lurrell Gittens Leicester Crown Court 2024

Murder – joint enterprise – self-defence

Teenager accused of the murder of a teenager from a gang who had admittedly harassed the defendant. Defence was of self-defence. Issues included rap lyrics and CCTV. Case subject of an appeal.

R v Whyles Nottingham Crown Court 2024

Defendant raped, sexually assaulted and abused a vulnerable child for whom he offered respite care. Complainant had spina bifida, unable to speak or write. Tapped words using a head activated word communication device. Advice given on the conduct of the ABE and trial strategy. Section 28 conducted. Convicted. Awaiting sentence.

R v Woodhouse Nottingham Crown Court 2024

Defendant raped and sexually assaulted four of his partners over many years. He co-erced and controlled the women until they would effectively do as he asked. He also sexually abused a child and blackmailed a woman in her eighties. He video recorded some of the rapes. The defence for the adults was consent. The main complainant was abused for over a decade. Many hours of ABE interviews were undertaken. Meetings with the complainant encouraged trust and the complainant gave evidence in chief behind a screen. Convicted.

R v James Williams Leicester Crown Court 2024

Murder – joint enterprise – drug related

Child accused of joint enterprise murder with five others. Allegation was joint intent to stab a known drug dealer in return for payment. Case relied on CCTV and telephone evidence. Gang expert wished to give evidence as to conduct. Successful objection to the same. Analysis of CCTV demonstrated audio capture of comments by the main defendant to the effect that the others had thought he was joking when he said that he would stab the deceased. Acquitted of murder. Convicted of manslaughter.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c144z7y1v79o

R v Kalid Derby Crown Court 2024

Revenge. Cross-allegation of rape.

Asylum seeker stabbed another asylum seeker many times, leaving the blade embedded in the spine of the victim. Defence case was that the victim had repeatedly raped K in his sleep. Both required interpreters. Mental health issues. Convicted.

R v McNamee Northampton Crown Court 2024

Attempted murder and cruelty to a baby. Medical evidence.

Represented mother accused of attempted murder of baby within the hospital setting by wrapping blankets tightly around the head and suffocating the child. FII said to be the cause of mother’s conduct and her attempts to starve the child. A meeting with the mother made plain her vulnerabilities and reports obtained. Intermediary granted throughout. Investigation revealed hospital in special measures and reports were badly written. Cross-examination of the expert paediatrician revealed bias and a misunderstanding of the evidence. Acquitted.

R v Downes Sheffield Crown Court 2023

Manslaughter, poisoning in order to rape, sexual assault.

Currently instructed to represent D in Sheffield Crown Court. Six weeks trial. Accused of causing the death of a women he met for the first time on a dating site by administering oxycodone. Body cremated before death considered suspicious. Intense investigation of unused revealed errors in the testing and contamination of the witnesses. Acquitted.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-64349552

R v Mombeini and Kholghnik Leicester Crown Court 2023

Black money fraud. Kidnap, torture murder

Defendants were subjected to a black money fraud by the deceased. They kidnapped him at knife point and then tortured him to get him to disclose where their money was. This failed. Deceased suffered 196 stab wounds. The defendants tried to blackmail the defendant’s friends and then arranged for the disposal of the body. Cut throat defence. Convicted.

https://www.itv.com/news/central/2023-11-01/dad-kidnapped-cut-196-times-and-killed-murder-jury-told

R v Osman Leicester Crown Court 2023

Youth. Obliged to sell drugs. County lines. Robbery by complainant.

O was a young teenager who had returned to the UK and was unable to find work. He was recruited to sell drugs. A rival dealer stole his drugs and money. O came across the dealer in the City Centre and considered he was to be robbed again. Stabbed him nine times. Acquitted of attempted murder on a re-trial.

R v Moyo Birmingham Crown Court 2023

Mental Health issues. Wife attempted to kill husband

M was mentally ill when she attempted to kill her husband by repeatedly smashing a mortar and pestle onto his head as he slept. Found to have done the act. On recovery in hospital was convicted of an assault, taking into account her mental health difficulties.

R v Goodwin and others 2023

Defendant with lowest IQ able to be tried for murder.

Defendant was severely limited in IQ. Was indicted with three others with a murder. The deceased appears to have been shot in error. Case relied on background and telephone evidence with CCTV. Cut throat defence.

R v Boden and Marsden Derby Crown Court 2023

Death of Finley Boden by savage blows causing fractures and sepsis.

Ten months old son, recently returned to the parents by the family court was savagely beaten on numerous occasions, burnt with cigarettes. No medical treatment was sought and the rib fractures led to pneumonia and sepsis. Parents used Covid 19 and manipulation of health professionals, social services and the courts to hide the true picture. Hugely complex case medically, described by the experts as one of the most difficult medical cases, involved histopathology, radiology, paediatrics and pathology. Defence was to blame each other.

Chief Crown Prosecutor’s Commendation received.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/finley-boden-injuries-trial-covid-b2346315.html

R v Crouch and Barton Derby Crown Court 2023

Death of Jacob Crouch by savage blows

Ten months old son, brought up by mother and step-father. Neglected and abused. Following savage blows sustained peritonitis. No medical assistance sought overnight. Died in his cot. Issues, causation, parents blamed each other. Medical evidence challenged. Father convicted of murder, mother of cruelty. Both also convicted of cruelty to a young girl.

https://news.sky.com/story/stepfather-jailed-for-life-for-murder-of-baby-jacob-crouch-who-suffered-car-crash-like-injuries-12933354

R v Emma Magson Birmingham Crown Court. 2022 – 2021

Domestic violence – female onto male.

EM and the deceased had moved into her property early into a new relationship for them. The deceased took some drugs and was on occasions aggressive to EM. EM was also violent to the deceased and seen by neighbours to assault the deceased and to damage his property. There was also a history of violence by her to other partners. Deceased was killed by a single stab wound. Issue was self-defence. Convicted after trial. Appealed on the basis that psychiatric evidence was not used in first trial. Appeal allowed. I was then instructed to prosecute. Six defence psychiatric experts were called to indicate that EM had significant limitations. Crown called one psychiatrist and one psychologist. Convicted. Appeal on the basis that the householder’s defence was not left to the jury. Court of Appeal rejected the contention.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-56564608

https://www.bbc.co.uk/ews/uk-england-leicestershire-62349141

R v Emma Tustin and Thomas Hughes Coventry Crown Court 2021

Murder of six years old by neglect, violence, salt poisoning.

Defence of ET who was accused of the murder of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, spurred on by Arthur’s father. The couple developed a horrific daily existence for A of standing against the wall, different treatment, assaults and neglect. The jury found ET guilty of the murder of A. Appeal against sentence and appeal by AG on the basis that the sentence was unduly lenient. Case formed part of the whole life order case in the Court of Appeal.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26236225

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13420659/missed-opportunities-save-arthur-labinjo-hughes-police-failed-clues-beaten-starved-murdering.html

R v Brian Coote Luton Crown Court 2020

CCU prosecution of neighbour who savagely murdered his 72 years old neighbour in Flamstead. Following significant work, guilty plea.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/christine-ford-neighbour-arrested-over-murder-of-grandmother-kl9npdc95

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/01/03/infatuated-oddball-murdered-neighbour-refused-kiss-village-fete/

R v Moore and others 2020

Telephone evidence, covert surveillance, cut throat.

Instructed to defend the lead defendant in an organised crime group (12 handed conspiracy) indicted with possession and supply of firearms, and supply class A drugs. Successfully argued that the telephone evidence of each telephone used in the case should be served as evidence. Acquitted after trial. Acquittal mostly based on gaps and flaws in the telephone evidence and cell site. Case required significant cross-examination of the cell site expert and analyst.

R v Denton and Eves Central Criminal Court 2019

Murder of a baby. Medical evidence. Autism.

Represented mother jointly charged with murder of 6 weeks old baby with 44 fractures and bleeding to the brain. After meeting the mother it was plain to me she was on the autistic spectrum. Diagnosis revealed that this was correct (she had no previous diagnosis) and that she had a series of other complex mental health difficulties which entirely altered the basis of the prosecution case against her. After considerable careful negotiation the prosecution offered no evidence.

R v Gilbert Luton Crown Court 2019

Baby in permanent vegetative state. Causation. Brain injury.

Prosecution for CCU of G who caused fractures of two occasions and a brain injury on a third. Issue was the timing of the bleed to the brain which was crucial as to who caused the bleed (mother was a Crown witness). Substantial and complex medical evidence presented in a manner which received a commendation from the Judge. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-48609617

R v Jeremy Clarke – Leicester Crown Court 2019

Domestic violence – alcohol – hypoglycaemia.

Clarke murdered his partner by cutting her throat in the couple’s bathroom. There were at least two cuts. Initially Clarke confessed to the crime to the police but then determined to defend the matter at trial by indicating that he had suffered a hypoglycaemic attack. The presentation of the evidence to the jury was almost entirely on screen with a visual depiction of his movements as shown on CCTV and by the forensic and telephone evidence. The defendant confessed to his daughter who was called as a prosecution witness and to his cousin. The case involved complex medical evidence. The defendant was convicted of murder.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/controlling-bully-said-ive-killed-14016003

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-47295751

R v Jamal Jeng and others – Luton Crown Court 2019

Drugs, group attack, intent.

Jeng, a 21 years old young man, who had ADHD and who had grown up in the care system, was one of five defendants who broke into the home of the deceased at 0200. All five men concealed their identity and once the door was kicked open the deceased was viciously assaulted by at least three of the group. The defendants could be seen entering the flat on CCTV. This was a cut throat defence. It involved issues of identification, telephone evidence, cell site analysis, challenges to forensic evidence of blood stains and footprints. Jeng was alleged to have made a full confession to a cell mate which was robustly challenged. The issue in his case was intent. He was acquitted of murder and convicted of manslaughter. Three of the others were convicted of murder and received life sentences with a minimum term of 26 years.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6942879/Gangland-murderer-jailed-life-drug-dealers-brutal-death-YouTube-rap-star-Lemz.htmlhttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6942879/Gangland-murderer-jailed-life-drug-dealers-brutal-death-YouTube-rap-star-Lemz.html

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/youtube-star-beat-drug-dealer-14437354

R v Sero Hemmings – Leicester Crown Court 2018

Drugs, road rage, alibi.

SH and his brother were indicted with the murder of AJ. This was a case with a background of drug dealing and road rage. SH was the driver. The issue was alibi. The case relied on careful examination of CCTV, telephone records, cell site analysis, blood staining and DNA profiling on the weapon.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/chilling-road-rage-murder-brothers-13754098

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6511391/Brothers-tailgated-driver-24-stabbed-death.html

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8017226/chilling-moment-brothers-tailgate-car-before-stabbing-passenger-who-complained-to-death-in-road-rage-slaying/

R v Ashwin Daudia – Leicester Crown Court 2018

Domestic violence, murder, concealment of the body.

AD had learning difficulties. He became enraged as his wife had determined to leave him and sell the house. He waited until she returned from work and then killed her by banging her head repeatedly on the banister whilst strangling her with her own scarf. He placed her body in a suitcase which remained in the house when his teenage son returned from college. He took the suitcase and put it by a neighbour’s bin to be collected by the bin men the following morning. The body was discovered. In interview he denied causing the death. He eventually admitted the assault but said he acted in self-defence. Previous history of violence. Requirement to cross-examine the two sons of the family as to mother’s violence and the defendant’s account that both sons had been violent to him. Convicted.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/chilling-cctv-shows-husband-dragging-11962487

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5491389/ashwin-daudia-murder-suitcase-scarf-strangled/

R v ML Nottingham Crown Court 2018

Youth, ADHD and autism, attempted murder, robbery, use of knife.

ML had autism and ADHD. The autism had been undiagnosed. He was part of a group of children who determined to rob the complainant of his mobile telephone in the early hours of the morning. All of the other children indicated that ML produced a knife and proceeded to stab the complainant causing life threatening injuries. The group fled to ML’s home where the complainant’s telephone was found in the toilet by the police. ML denied that he was responsible. Very careful cross-examination of vulnerable children in care revealed the weaknesses in the identification of ML as the person with the knife. Acquitted of attempted murder. Convicted of robbery.

R v TR Birmingham Crown Court 2018

Youth, ADHD, self-defence, drugs.

TR had ADHD and complex difficulties. He was accused of murder and attempted murder of two cousins who had arranged with TR to meet them for them to rob TR of the drugs that they had ordered. One of the two produced a stun gun. TR produced a home made knife that he had concealed and stabbed both youths numerous times causing life threatening injuries to one and death to the other. Defence was self-defence. TR was able to give evidence with the assistance of an intermediary. He was acquitted of murder and convicted of section 18 on the second youth.

R v Craig Keogh Birmingham Crown Court 2018

Burglary, robbery, rape, murder by suffocation.

Keogh (aged 26) broke into the home of an elderly frail pensioner. He stole her jewellery, ripping it from her body. He conducted an untidy search of the house taking money. He raped her vaginally and anally and then suffocated her with a pillow. He admitted sexual activity but said that she had paid for it. He denied causing her death arguing natural causes or that her death was at the hands of another. The case involved a new complex forensic method which revealed finger marks on her pillow at the edges. The medical evidence was challenged. The case involved CCTV, forensic evidence of rape and the cross-examination of a number of key witnesses who were friends of the defendant. He was convicted.

https://www.itv.com/news/central/2018-03-19/man-found-guilty-of-raping-and-murdering-72-year-old-jane-higg-at-her-home-in-fleckney-leicestershire/

https://www.thesun.co.uk/video/news/dramatic-moment-killer-craig-keogh-who-raped-and-murdered-gran-before-stealing-rings-from-her-fingers-is-arrested-in-caravan/

R v James Atherley Birmingham Crown Court 2018

Revenge, drugs, intimidation of witnesses, self-defence.

Atherley was convicted of the murder of a young man which occurred on the balcony of a flat where a party was being held. No-one saw the murder, but several party goers saw the deceased run bleeding from the balcony followed by the defendant who was shouting that that was what “grasses” or “snitches” got. The deceased had previously made a statement in a stabbing involving a friend of Atherley. Atherley made good his escape and made significant attempts to prevent others from testifying. At trial he raised self defence indicating that the deceased in a cocaine fuelled rage had come at him with a knife. Issues, self defence, pathology, forensic evidence, impact of alcohol on memory.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/baby-faced-killer-james-atherley-14987760

R v Smith and Dunn Birmingham Crown Court 2018

Drowning of child due to lack of supervision.

S was the step father of a six years old boy. D was the mother. Both had learning disabilities. They took the boy to Bosworth Water Park and left him unsupervised for over 20 minutes at a lake. The boy could not swim and had no water aids. He was discovered by other children. His sister saw his body being recovered. Complicated prosecution with many child witnesses and a requirement to piece together evidence as to the boys whereabouts to show the absence of supervision. Defence was a momentary lack of supervision. Bad character evidence of previous episodes where there had been a lack of supervision admitted. In the middle of the trial S admitted guilt and D admitted cruelty by neglect.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/dec/20/charlie-dunns-stepfather-jailed-after-water-park-death-drowning

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/stepfather-of-drowned-boy-charlie-dunn-is-jailed-6zrrqmc0s

R v Pinney Leicester Crown Court 2018

Grooming, obtaining indecent images, sexual assaults.

Pinney was a young man with Kleinfelter’s Syndrome, learning disabilities and complex physical and emotional needs. He was indicted with offences of grooming, sexual assaults and incitement against 26 children. He was said to be a prolific offender who pretended to be a female teenager using several different identities to target vulnerable males. He persuaded them to be in an online relationship with him and got them to send him indecent images. He denied that he committed the offences and indicated that his computer and electrical devices had been hacked. The case involved complex computer evidence and the examination of thousands of pages of messages and social media communications to try to establish who the user of the devices was. He was able to give evidence via an intermediary who was present throughout the trial.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5954263/Leicester-paedophile-sexually-groomed-26-boys-posing-teenage-girl-jailed-eight-years.html

R v A 2018 Leicester Crown Court 2018

Sexual assaults on a patient by a GP. Denial.

This GP was accused of sexual assaults on a vulnerable patient within weeks of the death of the patient’s baby. He was said to have given the patient oral sex, masturbated him and inserted a finger in his anus. There was forensic evidence of DNA from the GP on the patient’s penis. The patient made an immediate complaint. The GP denied in interview that he had a sexual interest in men. Bad character evidence was admitted that the GP used male dating websites and had engaged in sexual activity with males in his waiting room. The GP denied the activity.

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/leicester-gp-accused-committing-sex-1035648

R v Anwar Ismail Leicester Crown Court 2017

Rape by carer in children’s home. Victim deceased, hearsay application.

Child sexual exploitation.

Ismail befriended an extremely vulnerable young teenage boy. He sexually abused him and raped him. He groomed him sufficiently for him to escape from the children’s home after Ismail was dismissed. Ismail eventually set the boy up in a flat pretending the boy was his younger brother. The aim was to provide the boy for sexual activity with other adults. The boy complained to a care worker and made an ABE. Ismail then suggested he had cancer to try to get the boy back. The boy took his own life before trial. Evidence admitted under hearsay provisions. Defence argued that because of his difficulties the evidence was unreliable. At trial matters were denied on the basis that they had not happened and that the boy had a crush on him – he was just trying to help. Convicted.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5159063/Boy-hung-Derbyshire-care-home-carer-abuse.html

R v Khan Leicester Crown Court 2016

Gang rape, child sexual exploitation.

Khan was the lead defendant of a group of Asian males accused of grooming a teenage girl with learning disabilities giving her drugs, raping her and then providing her to others for his gain. When she complained he attempted to intimidate her into withdrawing her complaint. He was also accused of rape and serious assaults on a partner and sexual abuse of a family member. The main complainant was extremely vulnerable and cross-examination of her was limited to two hours. It was sufficiently effective for Khan to be acquitted of all bar one count of rape. A public commendation was given by the Judge for the manner of cross-examination. He admitted possession of a stun gun.

https://www.capitalfm.com/eastmids/radio/news/local/leicester-man-jailed-for-sex-attack-on-teenage/

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/720038/Boy-kills-himself-childrens-home-years-of-abuse-carer-Anwar-Ismail

R v Ardavicius Leicester Crown Court 2013

Rape of sex worker, attempted murder – strangulation.

A picked up the complainant who was a sex worker. She was pregnant. He drove her to an isolated spot and raped her. When she tried to leave by running away he grabbed her, tackled her to the floor and tried to strangle her. They were disturbed by a milkman on his way out of the depot. A made good his escape but was traced by CCTV. His defence was that the sex worker had tried to rob him after consensual activity and that he was simply trying to get his belongings back. A case of myths and stereotypes. Medical evidence confirmed strangulation. Convicted. I received a police commendation from the Chief Constable for my work on this case.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-21293008

R v Anwar Sheikh Manchester Crown Court 2013

Grooming -Rochdale – Child sexual exploitation

AS was one of a number of men accused of sexual abuse of a teenage girl who said that he plied her with drink and sexually abused her in his van and in a flat. Defendant denied the offences and said that the girl had not been with him at all. The girl had given evidence before in related trials and was well used to the types of questions that would be asked. A different approach revealed inconsistencies in her account. Acquitted.

Operation Daybreak

Child abuse in Nottinghamshire Care Homes 1970-2000

Child sexual exploitation

Prosecution of a series of trials of social workers, teachers and workers at Children’s Homes in Nottinghamshire. Large scale, complex investigation. All the complainants were extremely vulnerable both as children and then as adults coming forward. Cases ranged from rape to cruelty.

https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/first-conviction-under-operation-daybreak-1171130

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-35883737

https://www.itv.com/news/central/2016-08-22/church-volunteer-jailed-for-sexually-assaulting-teenager-30-years-go/

Mary is an enormously experienced advocate with formidable advocacy skills – she is adept at building a relationship with the jury and dealing with difficult and often vulnerable clients. She has a powerhouse reputation at the Bar.’Legal 500, 2025

Mary is one of the best silks around. She is a fantastic advocate - jurors love her. She breaks complex concepts down very easily and enables a jury to follow her arguments with ease. Her client care is also brilliant.Legal 500, 2025

Mary is a powerful and compelling advocate whose emotional intelligence and empathy give her a real tactical advantage, whether she prosecutes or defends. She is 100% committed to her cases, and her work is outstanding. Particularly good at questioning vulnerable witnesses. Legal 500, 2023

Mary demonstrates an impressive grasp for evidence and her presentation of the case for the Crown is excellent. She brings the threads of a case together with great skill and prosecutes fairly and confidently in order to achieve justice for all involved. Legal 500, 2022

Extremely robust and meticulous in her case preparation and cross-examination, commanding the respect of the court room and instilling confidence in her.Legal 500, 2021

Tenacious, focused and secures excellent outcomes.Legal 500, 2020

I wish to take the opportunity to thank Mary Prior QC for her tireless work on this case. This was a case that involved various levels of professionalism, whether it was dealing with demanding solicitors, a vulnerable defendant or their family. Mary Prior QC excelled in dealing with everyones expectations whilst remaining professional throughout. Congratulations and thank you Mary Prior QC.Solicitor